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Felicidad Ogumoro

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Felicidad Ogumoro
Headshot of Felicidad Ogumoro taken at the start of the 17th CNMI Legislature
Vice Speaker of the
Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
In office
January 2010 – January 2013
Preceded byJoseph Deleon Guerrero
Succeeded byFrancisco Dela Cruz
Personal details
Born
Felicidad Taman Ogumoro

(1949-09-01)1 September 1949
Saipan, Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
DiedJanuary 2024(2024-01-00) (aged 74)
Political partyRepublican (2013–2024)
Covenant (2009–2013)
Reform (2001)
Democratic (1979–2001)
Spouse
Francisco Uludong
​
​
(m. 1976; died 1991)​
Children4
ResidenceSaipan
Alma materUniversity of Saint Mary
ProfessionBusinesswoman
Politician

Felicidad Leiwamal Taman Ogumoro (September 1, 1949 – January 2024) was a politician from the Northern Mariana Islands. She served for some years as a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.

Early life and career

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Felicidad Leiwamal Taman Ogumoro was born September 1, 1949.[1][2] She was born into a poor Carolinian family on Saipan, the daughter of Daniel Rogolifoi Ogumoro and Estefania Taman; she is the eldest of eight children. During her childhood, she trained to become a member of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy and attended Mt. Carmel High School, a parochial school in Saipan.[3] She then attended the University of Saint Mary in Kansas and earned a B.A. in sociology.[4] She married Francisco Uludong in 1976 and they remained married until his death in 1991. She and Francisco had four children.[3] She was very involved in the United Carolinians Association and participated in its reestablishment in 2020.[5]

First legislative terms

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Ogumoro was elected to serve in the 1st Legislature of the Northern Mariana Islands.[3] She and Serafina Rosario King was the first woman to serve in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.[6][7] She was reelected in 1979 as a Democrat. During the 1st and 2nd legislatures, she served as the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare.[8] In the 1981 general election, Ogumoro, again the Democratic candidate, was swept out in a Republican wave election.[9]

Between legislative terms

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After her first tenure in the legislature, she organized Western Pacific Associates, Micronesia's first locally owned public relations and business consulting firm.[4] In the 1990s, she led a small nationalist group called Inetnon Taotao Tano which opposed foreign development in the CNMI.[10] In 1991, she ran for the House from Precinct IV on a platform to establish a trust fund for future generations, fund housing development on homesteads and private property, improve education, and promote entrepreneurship.[11]

In 2001, she left the Democratic Party and joined former Governor Froilan Tenorio in establishing the Reform Party, an affiliate of the American Reform Party.[12][13] Governor Juan Babauta nominated Ogumoro to the Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors in 2005.[14]

Second legislative terms

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In the 2009 general election, Ogumoro was elected to the House for a second tenure.[15]

In the 17th Commonwealth Legislature, Ogumoro was chosen to serve as the Vice Speaker of the House.[16] She succeeded Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero who served in the position during the 16th Commonwealth Legislature.[17] In her capacity as Vice Speaker, she served as Acting Speaker when Speaker Froilan Tenorio was off island.[18] Francisco Santos Dela Cruz took over as Vice Speaker for the 18th Commonwealth Legislature.[19]

Ogumoro was a member of the House of Representatives when Janet Maratita was sworn into office in 2011; the two women, alongside Teresita Santos, were the first three to serve simultaneously in the House.[20] Among her areas of interest while in the House was a desire to create a Northern Marianas Cultural Center.[21]

Originally elected as a member of the Covenant Party, Ogumoro chose to follow Governor Benigno Fitial to the Republican Party.[22] Ogumoro was one of four legislators to vote "no" on each article of impeachment against Fitial.[23] Ogumoro was reelected in 2012 and 2014. Ogumoro opted not to run for reelection in the 2016 general election and retired after the 19th Commonwealth Legislature.[24] After leaving the Legislature, Ogumoro was appointed to the advisory board of the Department of Public Lands.[25]

Death

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Ogumoro died in January 2024, at the age of 74.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Inauguration of the Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature" (PDF). Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. January 11, 2010. p. 25. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  2. ^ De La Torre, Ferdie (December 28, 2021). "House pays tribute to Ogumoro for 50 yrs. of service". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Ogumoro, Felicidad (February 12, 1997). "Felicidad T. Ogumoro" (PDF). Oral Histories (Interview). Interviewed by Deanne C. Siemer; Howard P. Willens. Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: Northern Marianas Humanities Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Simon-McWilliams, Ethel (1987). Green, Karen Reed (ed.). "Glimpses into Pacific Lives: Some Outstanding Women(Revised)" (PDF). Washington, DC: Education Resources Information Center. pp. 178–180. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  5. ^ "United Carolinians Association revived". Marianas Variety. December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Lowe, Eve (January 10, 1978). "Beginning Of New Marianas". Marianas Variety. Vol. 6, no. 42. p. 8. Retrieved December 5, 2024 – via EVols. Lower House Representatives: Jose R. Lifoifoi, Serafina R. King
  7. ^ De La Torre, Ferdie (March 1, 2024). "King-Hinds announces intent to run as delegate". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2024. It was her mother, Serafina King-Nabors, who introduced King-Hinds at the event. Both King-Nabors and the late Felicidad T. Ogumoro were the first women representatives in the first CNMI Legislature.
  8. ^ "Senate, House Leaders Hope for Harmony" (PDF). Mariana's Variety. January 17, 1980. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  9. ^ "GOP Scores Landslide Election Win" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 10, no. 34. November 6, 1981. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  10. ^ "Japanese Are Retaking Micronesia With Money". San Francisco Chronicle. January 17, 1991. p. B7 – via NewsBank.
  11. ^ Ogumoro, Felicidad (November 1, 1991). "Felicidad Taman Ogumoro: Democratic Candidate for Precinct IV". Marianas Variety. Vol. 20, no. 66. p. 37. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  12. ^ Dandan, Zaldy (April 12, 1999). "New Party organized" (PDF). Mariana's Variety. Vol. 26, no. 9. p. 3. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  13. ^ Dass, Jojo (June 17, 1999). "Island-wide Election for House Reps Proposed" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 26, no. 70. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "Senate to vote on vacancies certified by governor today". Saipan Tribune. December 13, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "First Day" (PDF). Legislative Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 17 (1). CNMI House of Representatives. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "Election of Vice-Speaker" (PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 17 (1). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 7. January 11, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  17. ^ "Election of Vice-Speaker" (PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 16 (1). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 5. January 14, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  18. ^ Deposa, Moneth (June 15, 2012). "Retirees reject Fund emergency". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  19. ^ "Second Reading of Bills" (PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 18 (2). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 6. January 22, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  20. ^ "Janet Maratita is sworn into office - Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads - Saipan Tribune". www.saipantribune.com. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  21. ^ Variety, Marianas. "Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro wants to establish NMI cultural center". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Vice speaker will be joining Fitial in the Republican Party". Saipan Tribune. January 9, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  23. ^ Eugenio, Haidee V. (February 13, 2013). "Ball now goes to the Senate". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  24. ^ Perez, Jon (January 9, 2017). "19th Legislature closes out session". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  25. ^ Variety, Marianas. "Saipan municipal council OKs Felicidad Ogumoro's appointment to DPL advisory board". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  26. ^ Manglona, Thomas (4 January 2024). "NMI pioneer Felicidad Ogumoro passes away at 74". KUAM News. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
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